President Barack Obama led the world in hailing the death of Muammar Gaddafi
as the end of 40 years of despotism and tyranny, amid caution that Libya’s
transition to a fair and democratic society could be long and difficult.

“A long and painful chapter for the people of Libya is now closed,” said the US president, speaking in the White House Rose Garden. “Today we can definitively say the Gaddafi regime has come to an end and one of the world’s longest serving dictators is no more.”

“The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted and with this enormous promise the people of Libya have a great responsibility to build an inclusive, tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Gaddafi’s dictatorship.” But, he added, “we are under no illusions – there will be difficult days ahead”.

The president, who was criticised at home for involving the US military in a third overseas mission, stressed how its objectives had been achieved without a single American soldier being deployed on the ground and stressed that the eight-month Nato mission would soon come to an end. He praised the co-operation between Nato and Arab nations as a model for the 21st century.

Col Gaddafi’s demise served as a warning to other despots in north Africa and the Middle East who have now seen leaders toppled and protests challenge the status quo across the region.

“Today’s events proved once again that the rule of iron fist inevitably comes to an end,” he said.

David Cameron said it was an occasion to remember all of Col Gaddafi’s victims, from the victims of the Lockerbie bombing to Wpc Yvonne Fletcher and victims of IRA terrorism killed by bombs using Libyan Semtex.

“We should also remember the many, many Libyans who died at the hands of this brutal dictator and his regime,” he said.

“People in Libya today have an even greater chance after this news of building themselves a strong and democratic future. I am proud of the role that Britain has played in helping them to bring that about and I pay tribute to the bravery of the Libyans who helped to liberate their country.”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who led the early calls for intervention in Libya, said “a new page is turning for the Libyan people, one of reconciliation in unity and freedom”.

In an unscripted moment earlier in the day Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, was recorded saying “Wow” when an aide handed her a BlackBerry containing news of unconfirmed reports that Col Gaddafi had been captured. On travel in Afghanistan, she then said: “Unconfirmed, we have had a bunch of them before.”

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made a more florid comment on the passing of his longtime ally. “Now the war is over. Sic transit Gloria mundi.”

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, said: “Let us recognise, immediately, that this is only the end of the beginning. The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges.”

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor who was cool on the initial intervention, said: “A bloody war which Gaddafi waged against his own people now comes to a close. The way is finally clear for a new and peaceful political beginning.”

Noticeable by their silence in response to the news of Gaddafi’s death were the Gulf states who helped to bring it about.

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates both joined the Nato-led military coalition against him, contributing military resources, but neither sheikhdom issued any statement in response to events yesterday.

Like Saudi Arabia, whose monarch Col Gaddafi tried to have murdered, they loathed Gaddafi first for his revolutionary socialism and later for his attempts to assume leadership of the Arab world.

But Gulf kingdoms also fear facing democratic revolutions of their own.

Qatar is also well aware that its backing of Islamist groups in the revolutionary movement in Libya has not been popular with its western allies.